The ultimate beneficiary and target group of the proposal are the energy starved rural poor. Not only that for the vast majority of poor rural households in the target countries higher energy services are not available – the rural poor pay relatively high prices for inferior energy services based on candles or Kerosene.  

The target groups will receive through the renewable energy training programme a profound know-how basis necessary for the creation of a multiplier effect for renewable energy applications in technical, financial and policy matters. A prerequisite for renewable energy demand to materialise is information of the targeted beneficiaries (trainees) on ‘how does it work’ and today even more important ‘how to make it happen’ with the important aspect on ‘how I finance and pay for it’. The training will tackle this questions and introduce renewable energy technologies, financing options, policy strategiesa and project development approaches to the trainees.

The approach of the project is the qualification of local trainers from renewable energy experts down to the community stakeholder level and the joint develop-ment of appropriate renewable energy training kits for each level. Hereby, the project team will train the level 1 trainers, the level 1 trainees train the level 2 trainers who then will train the level 3 trainees. The trainees of each level will be involved in the on-going development of the respective training kit level.

Targeted trainees are the in-country (renewable) energy experts, policy makers, and representatives of main stakeholders from Government, Private Sector, Communities, Energy Service companies (ESCOs), and NGOs. This first target group will include multipliers like policy makers, engineers, architects, instructors and trainers, project developers and managerial staff of financing institutions.

Train the Trainer Programme

The training starts with two parallel 2-week train-the-trainer seminars from January 7th to 19th 2008 in laos and Cambodia. 30 RES experts, 15 each from Laos and Cambodia will participate in this seminars. Those 30 Level 1 trainers will be strongly involved in the whole project and are expected to multiply their knowledge in their countries. The level 1 trainers, trained in this first train the trainer programme, will be involved in the whole project, in the training of further trainers and in the development and implementation of the living showcases - the renewable energy pilot projects in the selected communities. These persons will serve as the seeds for further development in their countries sector.

Expert Training
The Level 1 trainers will organise 4 trainings á 60 hours for 20-30 participants from January 2008 to June 2009. The targeted participants are public and private sector (renewable) energy experts, officials and politicians from the target countries. The trainees will be enabled to become level 1 renewable energy trainers or consultants.

The level 1 trainers will organise 5 trainings á 60 hours for each 20 to 30 technicians in the geographical areas of the pilot communities from April 2008 to April 2009. The trainees will be enabled to become level 2 and 3 trainers and to develop and implement renewable energy projects in their communities.

The level 1 and 2 trainers will organise 10 trainings and or workshops á 40 hours in each pilot community from October 2008 to August 2009. The targeted participants are local stakeholders in the geographical areas of the pilot communities, such as politicians, civil servants, entrepreneurs, teachers etc. They will be enabled to understand the economical and technical benefits of adequate renewable technologies for the well being of their communities.

Community Showcases
The trainings in the pilot communities will be accompanied by hands-on renewable energy project implementations. The community stakeholders will select and implement renewable energy applications suitable for their communities.